Pauline Phillips American journalist, author of Dear Abby Date of Birth: 04.07.1918 Country: USA

Pauline Phillips: A Biography

Pauline Phillips was an American journalist and the author of the famous advice column "Dear Abby." Her column was read by millions of people around the world and appeared in thousands of newspapers. "Dear Abby" addressed readers' questions and provided advice on important topics such as family, marriage, aging, death, and children.

Born as Pauline Esther Friedman on July 4, 1918, in Sioux City, Iowa, she was the youngest of four sisters. Her parents, Rebecca and Abraham B. Friedman, were Russian Jewish immigrants who owned a chain of movie theaters. Growing up in Sioux City, Pauline and her twin sister Esther Pauline, who later became known as columnist Ann Landers, were exposed to a constant stream of guests seeking advice in their parents' home.

Both sisters attended Central High School and then Morningside College, where they studied psychology and journalism. They shared a dream of writing for newspapers and both played the violin. In 1939, they had a double wedding ceremony to celebrate their birthdays. Pauline married Morton Phillips from Minneapolis, and they had two children, Edward Jay Phillips and Jeanne Phillips, who later continued her mother's legacy by taking over the "Dear Abby" column.

The "Dear Abby" column began in 1956 when Pauline, then 37 years old, called the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and offered to write a better advice column than the one they had. The editor, Stanleigh 'Auk' Arnold, gave her a few reader letters to answer within a week. Pauline sent her responses back within an hour and was hired on the same day. She wrote under the pseudonym Abigail Van Buren. This marked the beginning of a professional rivalry between Pauline and Esther, which was later resolved when Esther obtained a similar column in the Sioux City Journal.

Pauline remained the sole author of her column until 2000, when her daughter Jeanne joined her. In 2002, due to her declining health caused by Alzheimer's disease, the column officially passed on to Jeanne. "Dear Abby" enjoyed immense popularity among newspaper readers and radio listeners. Pauline received an overwhelming number of letters seeking advice, and she was known for her accurate, witty, and uplifting responses. She never published the most personal and touching letters and instead replied to those individuals privately. If a letter indicated distress or suicidal tendencies, she would personally call and talk to the person on the phone.

Despite her professional success, Pauline and Esther always prioritized their families above all else. However, Pauline's marriage eventually became strained, and she even demanded a divorce, believing that her children should not witness their parents' arguments. In 2002, Pauline's health problems began after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Her family made significant contributions to Alzheimer's research and support during this time.

Pauline Phillips passed away at the age of 94 on January 16, 2013, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after more than a decade-long battle with the disease. The "Dear Abby" column continues to be popular among readers, and the rights to the column are now owned entirely by Jeanne Phillips.